NEW DELHI: Raising hopes that the Indo-Pak peace process may be resurrected with the new Nawaz Sharif government, S L Lambah, PM's special envoy on Pakistan, met with the new Pakistani PM on Monday. A statement, issued by the PMO late Monday evening, said, "They took the opportunity to discuss ways to take the dialogue process forward to address all issues of concern to the two countries and to advance peace, friendship and cooperation between the two South Asian neighbours."

Sharif, who won a handsome victory in the recent elections, has been fairly vocal about his desire to improve relations with India. He indicated he would invite Singh for his swearing-in ceremony. Whether Singh visits his inauguration, the fact that he sent his special envoy to see Sharif indicates that India would be willing to meet Pakistan more than half way, if the new Paksitani PM can walk his talk. The PMO statement said, "Special Envoy Lambah conveyed to Mian Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's greetings and good wishes for his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan."

Lambah has been negotiating a peace deal in back-channel negotiations with his Pakistani counterparts for the past few years. They were close to a deal in 2007 when former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's political troubles put paid to the initiative. India was keen to resume it during the last Zardari government, but Pakistani Army chief Ashfaq Kayani effectively torpedoed it. And in the atmosphere of terrorism, it became difficult to start the talks.

But with Sharif the prospects of a peace deal have brightened once again. Lambah's brief at this point would have been to follow up on the conversation between the PM and Sharif on May 12, soon after the latter was elected, to get a sense of how best to proceed on the peace track. Sharif may be able to embark on peace negotiations right away or he might want to wait to get a better feel of how the Pakistani Army feels about this.

On India's side, New Delhi would want to press its advantage of getting peace talks started at a time when Pakistan is facing an uncertain future due to the NATO troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014.

Sharif government, S L Lambah, PM's special envoy on Pakistan, met with the new Pakistani PM on Monday.NEW DELHI: Raising hopes that the Indo-Pak peace process may be resurrected with the new Nawaz Sharif government, S L Lambah, PM's special envoy on Pakistan, met with the new Pakistani PM on Monday. A statement, issued by the PMO late Monday evening, said, "They took the opportunity to discuss ways to take the dialogue process forward to address all issues of concern to the two countries and to advance peace, friendship and cooperation between the two South Asian neighbours."

Sharif, who won a handsome victory in the recent elections, has been fairly vocal about his desire to improve relations with India. He indicated he would invite Singh for his swearing-in ceremony. Whether Singh visits his inauguration, the fact that he sent his special envoy to see Sharif indicates that India would be willing to meet Pakistan more than half way, if the new Paksitani PM can walk his talk. The PMO statement said, "Special Envoy Lambah conveyed to Mian Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's greetings and good wishes for his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan."

Lambah has been negotiating a peace deal in back-channel negotiations with his Pakistani counterparts for the past few years. They were close to a deal in 2007 when former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's political troubles put paid to the initiative. India was keen to resume it during the last Zardari government, but Pakistani Army chief Ashfaq Kayani effectively torpedoed it. And in the atmosphere of terrorism, it became difficult to start the talks.

But with Sharif the prospects of a peace deal have brightened once again. Lambah's brief at this point would have been to follow up on the conversation between the PM and Sharif on May 12, soon after the latter was elected, to get a sense of how best to proceed on the peace track. Sharif may be able to embark on peace negotiations right away or he might want to wait to get a better feel of how the Pakistani Army feels about this.

On India's side, New Delhi would want to press its advantage of getting peace talks started at a time when Pakistan is facing an uncertain future due to the NATO troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014.